Moran named Waynesboro football coach

Waynesboro named its new football coach Tuesday. Shawn Moran, the former offensive coordinator, takes over for retiring Derek McDaniel.

Wochit

WAYNESBORO - It was not a well-kept secret, but, at least after Tuesday afternoon, it's official.

Shawn Moran is the next head football coach for Waynesboro High School. It was announced by the school's athletic director, and former football coach, Derek McDaniel in a conference room at the school Tuesday.

Waynesboro head coach Derek McDaniel, center, and assistant coach Shawn Moran congratulate each other after defeating Hidden Valley during their Group 3A first round playoff football game on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014.

Griffin Moores/The News Leader

For the past four seasons Moran has been the offensive coordinator under McDaniel, who arrived at Waynesboro as both football coach and AD in 2011.

Moran, a Buena Vista native, has been with the Waynesboro program for 12 years, serving as an assistant under three different head coaches. He has been a position coach, as well as both offensive and defensive coordinator in his time with the Little Giants.

Shawn Moran, right, stands with Waynesboro Athletic Director Derek McDaniel after officially being named the school's head football coach on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, in Waynesboro, Va. Moran, an assistant coach for the Little Giants for the past 12 seasons, succeeds McDaniel, who stepped down at the end of the 2017 season after seven years at the helm.

Tom Jacobs/The News Leader

He has also been through both ups and downs as a coach. The season before McDaniel took over, Waynesboro was winless and had won just seven games over a six-year period.

But in 2014 the Little Giants earned a playoff berth, upsetting top-seeded Hidden Valley on the road and advancing to state quarterfinals. Waynesboro hasn't missed the playoffs since that season. This past year they fell to Monticello in the postseason opener, ending the season at 4-7.

McDaniel announced he was stepping down following the Monticello loss, another not-so-well-kept secret. He and Moran had been discussing the possibility for at least two years, and McDaniel was hoping Moran would be his successor.

McDaniel said there were nine candidates for the job, some very qualified, but in the end Moran was the best person for the job.

Waynesboro coach Shawn Moran talks about what to expect for the other team's offense, prepping for ...more

Waynesboro coach Shawn Moran talks about what to expect for the other team's offense, prepping for the next day's scrimmage, during varsity football practice at the school on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016.

Mike Tripp/The News Leader

"He earned that opportunity," McDaniel said. "He's been part, a big part, of the reason why we've had success the past several years."

McDaniel said he let Moran run the offense without a lot of input from the head coach over the past few years. McDaniel trusted him to make the right decisions. And now McDaniel feels he's made the right decision in promoting Moran.

"I'm very appreciative," Moran said. "It's been a long journey for me at Waynesboro. I've been through a lot of good times and bad times. I'm real excited for the opportunity and the challenge."

Moran isn't settled on his staff yet, although he said he'll most likely remain offensive coordinator. With his departure and the departure of DeWayne Moore, who coached the JV team, McDaniel said there are now two openings on the staff and he's hoping to fill those with defensive coaches to help out Moran.

Moran knows the value of a great staff.

"It's so much bigger than just one person," Moran said.

McDaniel will remain as the AD, something Moran is happy about. He values the former head coach's opinions and knows that, when he has questions, McDaniel will be available to answer them.

"He will do an outstanding job," McDaniel said. "I have no doubts about that."